Egg gauge



Patented Sept. 9, 1924i.

n istanti OLIVER D. COLLS, 0F CLINTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOLLISCOMPANY, OIFkk CLINTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

EGG GAUGE To all wzlom it may conce/m:

Be it known that I, OLIVER D. CoLLIs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa., haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg Gauges, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a gauge by which to determine the number ofeggs con tained within a case of standard dimensions at any stage duringthe packing operation. Y

In the handling of eggs on a commercial basis it is customary to useshipping cases of certain standard dimensions having a capacity of, say,thirty dozen. To prevent breakage the eggs are commonly placed infillers which are arranged in layered formation usually sixteen lin thebottom layer, twenty-five ,in the next, and soon alternately to thetop.` During the operation of packing it is diiiicult to ascertain thenumber of egg layers that have been placed in the container, and alsothe total number of eggs that are packed therein. lt is accordingly withthe purpose in view of providing a gauge which may be employedinconnection with standard egg cases and lillers therefor that thepresent invention. has been devised. y

In the accompanying drawing is represented an embodiment of my inventionin the manner following:

Figure 1 is a side elevation through an egg case of standardconstruction, portions of the proximate wall being broken away toexhibit the contents thereof` and also the egg gauge in operativerelation therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged Jfragmentary view in plan showing the gauge inoperative posif tion; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof.

The case A is shown to be divided by a central partition 5 into twocompartments each adapted for receiving egg illers arranged layer onlayer. For purposes of convenience, it will be assumed that the capacityof the lowermost filler is 16, the one above 25, and so on, inalternation, nine layers having a total capacity of 180 eggs being theusual arrangement in each compartment. The approximate levels of theseveral egg layers when arranged in this manner are indicated by theletters a, l), c, etc.l

lsnugly embrace the post.

With aycase-wherein'eggs are packed in lthis manner, the present gaugeis adapted `for use. As shown, this` comprises a rectangular base plateB near one corner of which is an upstanding post C whose upper end ispreferably `formed to provide a handle 6. ln cross section the post maybe square, and slidably arranged'thereon is a cross 'head D consistingof a 'pair of horiyZontal arms 7 and 8 having complementary notches intheir intermediate'portions to As by means of screws 9 extending fromthe one arm lto the` other,.both are held together as a unit in iclampingrelation, to the post. The cross head extends laterally from thepost in a direction which aligns with the vertical plane extendingthrough two ofits opposite Upon the gauge post are a seriesI ofgraduations which may be duplicated or varied, if desired. on each sidethereoi'.'v These graduations include horizontal lines Ca', b',

c', etc., corresponding to the levels of the respective egg layers a, o,c, etc., also a vertical line 7i. which extends for substantially thelength of the post. Bv some such markings as these .l define as seriesof spaces in two columns in one of which is recorded the number of eggsin a given layer and in the other the total number of eggs fin the crateup to a given level. In the layer column, commencing with lthe topspace, appear the numerals 16 and 25 in alterna'- tion, whereas in thecrate column, cornmencing with the top, appears irst the numeral 16;inthe next Space the numeral 4:1 which represents an addition of 25; inthe next space therebelow the numeral 57 which represents aurtheraddition of 16; and in the next succeeding space the numeral 82which represents the preceding total with 25 added thereto; and so on tothe bottom space in the column where a grand total of 180 is recorded.lt will thus be observed 1 thatin the layer column appear the nubase isthen rested upon thevtopmost eggsj as at the leve-l (Z (see Fig. l).`Vl`his baseplate is tit-ted into the cornen of the case, the gauofe postalso lying in proximity thereto so that the transverse arms will point`Jbliquely and rest upon the upper edges of the case when moved to alowered position. As shown in Fig. l the arms will lie within a'pair ofthe spaces which are marked off on the post, and the figures in thesespaces will afford the desired reading both as to the number of eggs inthe 'filler last packed and as to the total number et eggs in all thefillers thus far packed. It will thus be apparent that the gauge may bereadily adapted for the taking of a count at any stage during thepacking operation.

I claim:

l. A gauge for. determining the 'number of eggs contained in a case,said eggs being arranged in layers, .alternate ones of which have eachthe same number ot eggs therein, which number differs from the number inthe intermediate layers, said gauge comprising posthaving means at itslower end adapted to rest upon the topmost layer of eggs containedwithin the case, and a cross head eX- tending laterally from the postand adjustable thereupon for resting upon. the upper edge ot the case,there being spaced graduations on the post adjacent one ot which thecross head will lie when rested upon the case edge, the spacing andmarking of the graduations being such as to indicate both the number ofeggs contained in the topmost layer during any stage of the packingoperation,

and also the total number of eggs contained in all. off the layers belowthe gauge, substantially as described.

2. An egg gauge comprising a rectangular base plate` a post upstand'ingtherefrom from a peint close to one corner thereof. a

incense l tion which is obluque to the base plate edges7 the base platebeing adapted to tit into A n case and to rest upon the topmwost layerof contained therewithin and the cross head o rest upon two adjacent topedges of the case there being spaced upon the topmost layer of eggscontained' within a case, a cross head extending laterally from the postand adjustable thereupon for resting upon the upper edge of the egg ijcase, there being double columns of numerals on the post arranged inpairs and spaced vertically a distance equal to the height of one egglayer, the numerals in one column indicating the number of contained ineach layer and the numerals in the other column indicating the totalnumber of eggs contained in the layers beneath the gauge, the cross headwhen resting upon the case edge lbeing disposed adjacent a pair ofnumerals which afford an indication of the number of eggs contained inthe topmost layer and the total number in that layer and in the severallayers therebelow, substantially as described.

@LIVER D. COLLIS.

Witness r M. C. Sfeer-Hans,

